Russia, Azerbaijan FMs to discuss Karabakh peace process in Moscow

MOSCOW, July 18 (Itar-Tass) -- Foreign Ministers of Russia and
Azerbaijan Sergei Lavrov and Elmar Mamedyarov will discuss the Nagorno
Karabakh peace process in the face of new proposals from Russian President
Dmitry Medvedev here on Monday.
The Russian foreign minister visited Baku and Yerevan on July 8. He
handed over to Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan the messages, which spelled
out the Russian presidential initiative seeking to settle the Karabakh
conflict. The sides pledged to study the documents and to give an answer
soon.
At the meetings in Armenia and Azerbaijan Lavrov noted that Medvedev
"is sincerely interested in the Nagorno Karabakh peace process to be
successful." The minister said with confidence that "all conditions to
come to an agreement exist."
The experts recalled that on June 24 during the summit In Kazan the
three presidents failed to agree on the basic principles of settlement.
The diplomatic circles hope that "fresh ideas of the Russian leadership
will help promote the peace process and put it on the right track."
Along with the Karabakh problem Lavrov and Mamedyarov will discuss the
entire scope of relations between the countries. "They will exchange the
instruments of ratification of the Russian-Azerbaijani Treaty on the State
Border and will sign a plan of consultations between the foreign
ministries for the second half of 2011 and 2012," a diplomatic source in
the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
The Azerbaijani foreign minister is expected to meet with Deputy Prime
Minister, Presidential Representative in the North Caucasus Federal
District Alexander Khloponin and Federation Council Vice-Chairperson
Svetlana Orlova.